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Massachusetts Hunting Season 2023

We set out to create the most simplified guide to Massachusetts hunting seasons for 2022-2023.

Want to find out season dates, learn about regulations and bag limits, understand license requirements, and get access helpful links?

Then you’ll love the info outlined in today’s guide. Let’s dive right in.

Massachusetts Hunting Seasons

MA Hunting Season Dates

There are so many different opportunities in the Massachesetts area for great hunting.

Masswildlife owns and mangers over 200,000 acres of land all open to hunting fishing tapping and other outdoor recreation activities. They help conserve fresh fish and protect land so it can thrive for people to enjoy, we help outdoorsmen just like you with presentations, workshops and you can keep protecting land as well by continuing to do what you do best, which is hunting!

Masswildlife will be stocking about 40,000 ring necked pheasants statewide on private and public lands open to hunting, there are many places to hunt in Mass as it home to multiple NWR, hunting is allowed on the eastern refuge complex in certain areas of the assabet river, great meadows NWR and Oxbow NWR. Parker river and Silvio O. Conte refuges are also available according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

MASS Deer Season 2023

Shotgun: November 29 - December 11

Primitive Firearms: December 13 - December 31

Youth Hunt: October 2

Paraplegic Hunt: October 28 - October 30

MA Wild Turkey Season 2023

Fall General Season: October 4 - November 28

Spring General Season: April 26 - May 22

Spring Youth Hunt: April 24

MA Small Game Seasons 2023

Cottontail Rabbit: October 16 - February 28

Snowshoe Hare: October 16 - February 28

Gray Squirrel: September 13 - January 1

Crow: July 1 - April 9

Pheasant: October 16 - November 27

Quail: October 16 - November 27

Ruffled Grouse: October 16 - November 27

Massachusetts Hunting Zones 2023

See the map below for a breakdown of Massachusetts's hunting zones:

Massachusetts Bag Limits 2023

MA Hunting License 2023

LicenseResidentNon Resident
Resident hunting*$22.50$94.50
Permits / StampsFee
Archery stamp$5.10
Antlerless deer permit (when issued)$5.00
Turkey permit$5.00
Bear permit$5.00

MA Hunting Regulations 2023

You must wear at least 500 square inches of orange during shotgun and primitive firearm deer seasons.

Helpful Resources

Official State Site: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife

FAQs
When is hunting season in MA?

Deer season kicks off October 4 for archery and bear season starts September 7 in Ma.

When is deer hunting season in MA?

Archery starts October 4 and shot gun starts Novermber 29 in Mass.

Can you hunt on Sundays in MA?

Sorry, there is no hunting on Sundays in Massachusetts.

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Born in the northeast, Hunters Guides originally began as a resource to help hunters navigate complex season regulations. After a few months, we realized there was a greater opportunity to help promote hunting. So we started creating the resource we wish existed - a site rich with videos, tutorials and how-to's.

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